Daily News 15 / 12 / 2022

Indo-Pacific: EU-ASEAN Summit brings the two regions closer

Yesterday, EU and ASEAN leaders concluded the Commemorative Summit in Brussels, celebrating 45 years of EU-ASEAN diplomatic relations.

During the Summit, President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €10 billion investment package under the EU's Global Gateway strategy that will accelerate infrastructure investments, focussing on the green transition and sustainable connectivity in ASEAN countries.

President von der Leyen and Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, on behalf of the EU, together with leaders from Vietnam, the UK and other countries from the International Partners Group agreed a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam. This Partnership will support Vietnam to deliver on its ambitious Net Zero 2050 goal, accelerate the peaking of its greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy. It will mobilise an initial $15.5 billion (€14.5 billion) of public and private finance over the next three to five years to support Viet Nam's green transition.

The Commission and the Member States of ASEAN also agreed to establish the EU-ASEAN Energy Dialogue, a new framework for the two regions to regularly exchange on energy security, renewable energy and hydrogen, energy efficiency as well as regional power market integration.

Furthermore, President von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong announced the signature of a digital partnership between the EU and Singapore in 2023 that will advance cooperation on the full range of digital issues, including trade facilitation, trusted data flows and data innovation, digital trust, standards, digital skills for workers, and the digital transformation of businesses and public services. The EU and Singapore have also agreed on a set of Digital Trade Principles.

On the margins of the Summit, the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell signed two bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with Malaysia and Thailand.

EU and ASEAN leaders also celebrated the signature of the EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement in October this year. This agreement will open up more air transport opportunities and enhance direct connectivity between the two regions, while upgrading rules and standards for concerned flights.

Read the joint EU-ASEAN Leaders' statement issued and President von der Leyen's speech at the press conference following the Summit.

More information on EU-ASEAN relations is available on the factsheet on general relations, the factsheet on Global Gateway in ASEAN, the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Blue Book and the EU Delegation's website.

(For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 2 299 40 73; Nabila Massrali – Tel.: +32 2 298 80 93; Xavier Cifre Quatresols – Tel.: +32 2 297 35 82)

 

Les institutions de l'UE conviennent de priorités communes pour 2023 et 2024

Roberta Metsola, présidente du Parlement européen ; Petr Fiala, premier ministre tchèque, pour le Conseil de l'Union européenne ; et Ursula von der Leyen, présidente de la Commission, ont signé la déclaration commune sur les priorités législatives de l'UE pour 2023 et 2024, en s'appuyant sur les progrès importants réalisés au cours de l'année écoulée.

La déclaration commune définit une vision européenne conjointe pour une Europe plus forte et plus résiliente face à l'agression brutale et non provoquée de l'Ukraine par la Russie et à ses vastes répercussions, tout en s'attaquant à d'autres défis importants tels que la crise climatique et les turbulences économiques. L'Union européenne continuera de soutenir l'Ukraine et sa population tout en accélérant la double transition écologique et numérique.

Les institutions de l'UE se félicitent également des résultats de la conférence sur l'avenir de l'Europe et ont réaffirmé leur engagement à donner suite à ces propositions, chacune dans son domaine de compétence. De nombreuses propositions dégagées lors de la conférence ont déjà été prises en compte dans le programme de travail de la Commission pour 2023.

Les trois institutions continueront de travailler conjointement sur la base de cette déclaration commune et du document de travail qui l'accompagne, lequel énumère 164 propositions législatives essentielles.

La présidente von der Leyen s'est exprimée en ces termes: « La Russie a ramené la guerre en Europe. Les conséquences de cette agression se font fortement sentir en Europe et dans le monde. Cette déclaration commune témoigne de notre ferme détermination à rester unis pour soutenir l'Ukraine et sa population et pour relever les grands défis de notre époque, tels que le changement climatique. Elle trace la voie à suivre pour tenir les promesses que nous avons faites aux citoyens européens. »

Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations: Daniel Ferrie – Tél.: +32 2 298 65 00; Tommaso Alberini – Tél.: +32 2 295 70 10)

 

EU Cohesion Policy: €223.8 million for a just climate transition in Portugal

Portugal will receive more than €223.8 million under the Just Transition Fund (JTF) following today's adoption of three multi-fund programmes including the Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP).

This EU support will help deliver a just climate transition in the Portuguese regions of Alentejo Litoral and Médio Tejo and of the city of Matosinhos.

Portugal has recently closed three of the largest CO2-emitting plants in the country: two coal-fired power plants in Sines (Alentejo Litoral) and Médio Tejo, and the oil refinery in Matosinhos.

The JTF ensures that the transition towards a climate-neutral economy happens in a fair way, leaving no one behind, in particular in the affected regions. Those territories were identified during negotiations of the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreements and the associated programmes between the Portuguese authorities and the Commission.

The Partnership Agreement with Portugal was approved in July 2022. The TJTPs, developed by the national and regional authorities in close consultation with local partners, identify the challenges and development strategy and needs in each territory, and the objectives to be met by 2030. They also identify the planned actions with specific governance mechanisms.

The approval of TJTPs opens the door to funding by the JTF as well as to dedicated financing under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM): a just transition scheme under InvestEU and a Public Sector Loan Facility for Just Transition that combines Commission grants with European Investment Bank loans. The JTM provides targeted support to help mobilise around €55 billion over the period 2021-2027 in the most affected regions.

More details here.

(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 2 298 72 69)

 

Politique de cohésion de l'UE : 718,5 millions d'euros pour soutenir sept États membres à la suite des catastrophes naturelles dévastatrices de 2021

718,5 millions d'euros seront accordés au titre du Fonds de solidarité de l'UE (FSUE) pour aider sept États membres à réparer les dommages causés par les catastrophes naturelles dévastatrices de 2021. Cela fait suite à l'accord du Parlement européen et du Conseil sur la proposition de la Commission.

L'enveloppe d'aide se compose comme suit : 612,6 millions d'euros pour l'Allemagne ; 87,7 millions d'euros pour la Belgique ; 4,7 millions d'euros pour les Pays-Bas ; 1,8 millions d'euros pour le Luxembourg et 780 000 euros pour l'Autriche pour se relever et reconstruire après les inondations catastrophiques de 2021. 9,5 millions d'euros pour l'Espagne suite à l'éruption du volcan sur l'île de La Palma et 1,35 millions d'euros pour la Grèce suite au tremblement de terre en Crète.

La Commission va maintenant finaliser les décisions d'exécution respectives de la Commission accordant l'assistance à chacun des États membres soutenus par ce paquet.

Le FSUE est l'un des principaux instruments de l'UE pour le relèvement après une catastrophe et une expression tangible de la solidarité de l'UE. Il soutient les États membres et les pays candidats en offrant une contribution financière après de graves catastrophes naturelles et, depuis 2020, des urgences sanitaires majeures.

Plus de détails ici.

(Pour plus d'informations : Stefan De Keersmaecker - Tél. : +32 2 298 46 80 ; Veronica Favalli - Tél. : +32 2 298 72 69)

 

Health Union: HERA establishes laboratory network to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response

The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, HERA, has established the HERA laboratory network through the project DURABLE, funded with €25 million under the EU4Health programme to boost preparedness and response against health emergencies.

By fostering an integrated national and international network of laboratories, HERA will strengthen the overall capacity of the EU to react quickly and in a coordinated manner, in the case of emerging biological health threats and any other biological public health emergency. DURABLE will provide real time data and early signals of the potential emergence or spread of biological health threats at global level. The HERA laboratory network will contribute to a more rapid, comprehensive, and effective testing, identification, and enhanced characterisation of pathogens. This will help inform decision-makers to identify, develop, and purchase appropriate medical countermeasures.

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said: “When health emergencies arrive, it is crucial to act fast and ensure the highest level of protection for our citizens. The newly established HERA laboratory network, with €25 million in EU4Health funding, will help ensuring that data and early signals of potential emerging health threats are available in real time. EU supported cooperation between laboratories proved essential to our rapid understanding of the Omicron variant when it first arrived last year. Having access to fast data and intelligence is crucial for the swift identification, development, and purchase of relevant medical countermeasures. With HERA as a crucial part of a strong European Health Union, our work to reinforce the EU's preparedness and response to health threats continues unabated.” 

DURABLE will promote data exchange and inform decision making at global level. This will support countries in their efforts towards meeting Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being and other health-related targets and Sustainable Development Goals.

(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Célia Dejond – Tel.: +32 2 298 81 99)

 

L'UE et les partenaires africains lancent une initiative phare pour améliorer la santé et les droits sexuels et reproductifs

Les partenaires européens et africains unissent leurs forces pour améliorer la santé et les droits sexuels et reproductifs en Afrique, en particulier chez les adolescentes et les jeunes femmes, afin de renforcer leur autonomie et leur permettre de réaliser pleinement leur potentiel. L'Initiative Équipe Europe, qui renforcera la coordination et la collaboration entre les partenaires, a été lancée hier à Kigali, au Rwanda. Il s'agit d'une action clé dans le cadre du paquet d'investissement « Global Gateway Afrique-Europe » et de la stratégie de l'UE en matière de santé mondiale.

Elle s'appuie sur une analyse conjointe des lacunes, des besoins et des enseignements tirés des retours d'expérience, et donne la priorité aux domaines dans lesquels une perspective régionale peut compléter les investissements mondiaux et nationaux, en se concentrant sur trois objectifs spécifiques : accroître la mise en œuvre des engagements continentaux et régionaux en matière de santé et de droits sexuels et reproductifs dans les secteurs de la santé et de l'éducation ; améliorer la disponibilité, l'accessibilité financière et l'acceptabilité de produits de santé et de droits sexuels et reproductifs de qualité pour tous, en particulier pour les femmes et les filles ; et renforcer le plaidoyer et la redevabilité pour garantir que les besoins en matière de santé et de droits sexuels et reproductifs soient satisfaits.

Un communiqué de presse contenant de plus amples informations est disponible en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations : Ana Pisonero - Tél. +32 2 295 43 20 ; Jennifer Sánchez da Silva - Tél. +32 2 295 83 16)

 

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control of Universal Investment by CPPIB and Montagu

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Universal Investment GmbH of Germany by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPPIB') of Canada and Montagu Private Equity LLP (‘Montagu') of the UK.

Universal Investment is an independent service provider to the investment fund industry. It is currently solely controlled by Montagu. CPPIB is a professional investment management organisation that invests the funds transferred to it by the Canada Pension Plan. Montagu is a private equity firm that focuses on arrangements and investments in buyouts of companies.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the companies' moderate combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.10940.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

 

Mergers: Commission clears creation of joint venture by ZF, Hella, NGK and Clarios

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture  by ZF Friedrichshafen AG (‘ZF'), HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (‘Hella'), NGK SPARK PLUG EUROPE GmbH (‘NGK') and Clarios Germany GmbH & Co. KG (‘Clarios'), all of Germany.

The joint venture will offer repair services, digital solutions and programs to automobile workshops in Europe. ZF develops, manufactures and distributes products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. Hella belongs to the Forvia group and supplies automotive parts, in particular lighting and electronic products. NGK belongs to the NGK group and manufactures and sells spark plugs and related products for internal combustion engines, as well as sensors and ceramics for a wide range of applications. Clarios is mainly active in the manufacturing and supply of starter batteries for all kinds of vehicles and applications.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that the joint venture will have limited activities in the European Economic Area. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.10932. 

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

Commissioner Ferreira in Spain to launch €37.3 billion Cohesion Policy investment programmes for Spain for 2021-2027

Tomorrow, Friday 16 December, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, will be in Cáceres, in Spain, to launch the €37.3 billion Partnership Agreement with Spain, recently adopted by the Commission to support the country's green transition, finance innovation and digitisation, enhance the employment rate and strengthen local social and health services.

During her visit, Commissioner Ferreira will meet María Jesús Montero Cuadrado, Minister for Finance and Public Service; Guillermo Fernández Vara, President of Extremadura, as well as regional and local politicians and representatives of NGOs and businesses.

She will participate in the launch event at the Museo Helga de Alvear and will hold a press conference at 10:15 CET. In the afternoon, the Commissioner will meet a group of university and high-school students who participated in European projects and will visit the EU-funded Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre. 

(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 2 298 72 69)

 

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

 

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases